Blog Archives

Valentina Monetta San Marino The Social Network Song (Oh Oh – Uh – Oh Oh) 200/1Hmm, there appears to be a lot of traffic ahead. Oh, I see why, there’s a massive car crash with this song up ahead.My Verdict: I do quite like her. Quite a bit. Europe’s Verdict: Why would anyone want to intentionally vote for this? Why? WHY?

Željko Joksimović Serbia Nije Ljubav Stvar 14/1 No one seems to be talking about this, and I’m surprised. Serbia have the countries who can vote for it, and a song that’s pretty good too. He came close to victory with Lane Moje back in 2004, and his song this year although of a similar quality, can equally challenge.My Verdict: Not a personal favourite, but it is memorable. Europe’s Verdict: At least the second semi-final gets a good song opening it. Should qualify and be in the top 10 at worst.

Max Jason Mai Slovakia Don’t Close Your Eyes 125/1 In a year totally devoid of any decent rock songs, Slovakia have of course sent a rock song that is far from decent, it’s painful. It doesn’t appeal to the proper rock fans, and gets rather shouty for a good time too. Ahh, it could’ve promised a change from the ballad’s, but it’s not getting there. My Verdict: No, no, or in tribute to this song, NO. Europe’s Verdict: I can’t see anyone who will want to vote for this, or listen to this.

Eva Boto Slovenia Verjamem 100/1 She’s 16 and she can sing like that? I give up, just what hope for me is left? Sigh.My Verdict: It’s annoyingly good. Europe’s Verdict: I wouldn’t be surprised if this got out of the semi-final, and is a lot better than the other ‘Just old enough not to qualify for Junior Eurovision’ song from Belgium, and quite charming in another context. Could easily do a Switzerland on the Saturday, but I’m sure Eva won’t care about that.

Pastora Soler Spain Quédate Conmigo (Stay With Me) 18/1 In a strong year for the big 5, it’s hard to believe this song I find to be one of the weakest. It’s not that bad, Pastora is one hell of a singer, I just find the song waning my interest half way through. But, for Spain certainly, this is easily their best song in at least a decade.My Verdict: Why did Spain start taking this seriously? Europe’s Verdict: This could be a huge hit with the juries, but will fall short. Still going to be good for Spain. Which in fairness, is usually being higher than 16th.

Loreen Sweden Euphoria 7/4As fan favourites go, this is right at the top threatening to go into a league of its own. Yes, it’s a song that is going to do well, and a song that is unique at this years contest, but it relies on a lot on the stage performance. Thankfully for Sweden, that part is unbelievably brilliant. Everything but together and this will go down incredibly well.My Verdict: It isn’t one of my own favourites, but I can see why everyone else loves it. Europe’s Verdict: Should be pushing for victory.

Sinplus Switzerland Unbreakable 125/1 It took me quite a while to realise the chorus was ‘Swim against the stream’, rather than ‘somethingsomethingsomething’. I want to like it, but it’s too middle ground, and two Swiss people struggling to be clear in speaking English. My Verdict: I can’t even sing aloud to it… not that I would want to, of course. Europe’s Verdict: In such a strong semi-final, this could get left behind

Can Bonomo Turkey Love Me Back 33/1 After mixed success in the rock genre the last few years, Turkey have returned to a more ethnic and ‘Turkish’ song. A lot about this is relatively charming, if not a bit annoying to listen to it after quite a few listens. It should be unfeasible to see Turkey fail to reach the final again. My Verdict: If only I hadn’t kept on listening to it! Though the two time listens it needs should be fine for everyone else. Europe’s Verdict: Practically has the Eastern Europe vote in the bag, could be mid-table on finals night.

Gaitana Ukraine Be My Guest 40/1 Ukraine, being Ukraine, do well at Eurovision whatever they send, and that’s not going to change this year or many years in the future. The saving grace is at least they do send good entries (or something to distract us from the fairly average ones, looking at you Mika Newton), and Gaitana is sending a catchy, fun and a high energy three minutes to EurovisionMy Verdict: Enjoyable and fun to listen to. Europe’s Verdict: They’re practically guaranteed a top 10 finish already, this could keep pushing it up for a dangerous result.

Engelbert Humperdinck United Kingdom Love Will Set You Free 20/1Well, well, well. As ingenuity goes, the BBC may have surprised us all, no one expected Engelbert Humperdinck, no one expected anything to good from it either. But, for the second year in a row, the internal selection has come up good, yet fails to be brilliant. It’s a song that can go anyway and everyway possible, but hey, at least I’m not embarrassed with it.My Verdict: It’s good, at least. Europe’s Verdict: Who knows? Won’t win but a good performance should be on the cards.

“That Sounds Good To Me” in the end sounded good to no one at last years Eurovision, even the traditional votes from Malta didn’t happen. And it deservedly finished dead last, a position that the United Kingdom have found themselves all too often of late.

But people of the UK, it is time to come out from behind the sofa at the party in the living room of European nations, stand up on the coffee table and look down at the rest of them smiling like a mad man, and slightly drunk, screaming that we are the best. So this is why we can win Eurovision:

1. Internal Selection (and taking it seriously)

For me, as much as Eurovision should be down to the public, you have got to remember some of the things the British have sent to Europe. Jemini, Scooch and so on (in all fairness to Josh, he was doomed no matter what). So this year, the BBC decided to get something decent out there and chose Blue. Reducing any chance the British voting public taking the Mick.

2. And They Selected Blue

Three number one hits in the UK, the first British entrant since 1996 to have had any sort of #1 single prior to Eurovision. These guys have stadium experience, can actually sing and hey, have a history of good songs too.

3. Blue Are Popular Throughout Europe

I’m not sure if anyone had seen the BBC documentary ‘Your Country Needs Blue’ (still pun of the year), but they mentioned the fact of their huge status across the continent, especially in western Europe. And this will help the UK get votes from places other than Ireland.

4. ‘I Can’ is Alright Too

Okay, I’m hardly their intended audience, but this is bang on what I’d expect from Blue. Its catchy, its strong and if sung well, sounds good too.

5. It’s Not Jedward

Optimism people, it could be far, far worse. At least our entry is a proper song rather than relying on glittery costumes, handstands and general pazazz. We have a stronger song, and they certainly have a marmite duo.

They are only in it so Italy don’t score nul points. Oooh, you big cynic. Well, maybe. San Marino isn’t that bad. A nice song by a very talented singer for sure, but I do think this could work well being in the middle of two dance songs from Malta and Croatia. Right on the edge of qualification.

Prediction: Shame for the returning Sammarinese, but I can see this one just missing out.

Graham Norton: “And now we are going back in time to the 1960s for Serbia’s entry by Nina. Look, it is just like watching Austin Powers all over again. However the retro feel isn’t going to work in my own opinion.”*

*Opinion of me, not Graham Norton.

Prediction: Ooooh I’m not sure why I’ve decided to put them in squeezing into the final, but apparently I have. Must have done it at 3am.

Slovakia decided that this year one good looking girl just wouldn’t be enough to qualify with a poor song, so they decided to send two that looked exactly the same. Double the hotness double the points? God no. But hey, the video has football in it… although that might be them trying to bribe to say nice things about it. Its not a memorable song for me, but I’ll still be alive at the end of it at least. I hope.

Prediction: Miss. Though I imagine the twins themselves may prove to be quite the hit.

Its like The Silence, once its off our screens, everyone will magically forget about it. Until the round-up, when they come and again and we can continue this all night. Its nice, but not memorable. Nowhere near it, and just as it happens, people are going to forget to vote for it too.

Eric Saade attempted to win the Melodifestivalen in 2010 but could only finish 3rd with Manboy, which in my eyes is a stronger song than Popular. And with the way Popular is being built up, if that had been sent it could have done very well. Popular isn’t too bad.

Prediction: Could be hit and miss, but I’ll follow the crowd and say this will be massive. Top 5.

You go onto the YouTube video for this song and you’ll notice there are a few dislikes. Honestly, I can’t see how you can dislike this song. Its a sweet song sung by a cute girl which is easy to listen to and easy to look at. But it just doesn’t offer much more than that overall.

Prediction: It’ll get through the semi final and languish in the bottom half of the final.

I feel for the Dutch. The come year in year out and never make it out of the semi finals, and they’ve tried everything. 3JS (not to be confused with JLS) are this years latest attempts by the Dutch just, possibly, to reach the coveted grand final. Its similar in a way to Denmark, soft-rock, but its actually OK. Nothing more really, but OK. Not as bad as some of their previous efforts and is borderline qualification.

Prediction: Inevitably going to give it the kiss of death here… but the Dutch will qualify.

Somehow, maNga snuck up on everyone last year and finished second behind Lena. Turkey, obviously thinking that worked well for them, have decided to send back something similar. Although it is a bit less hard rock than last years (having watched rehearsals I can say that, for example, there is a girl doing gymnastics rather than a metal robot with a chainsaw one program error from killing everyone in Oslo). But this is a good song and although he may be slightly older, Turkey are going to be fighting for the win.

It wouldn’t be Eurovision if it didn’t include a Ukrainian disaster in the national final. Mika Newton won, but claims of vote rigging ensued and in the end, somehow, the dullest song in Dusseldorf is here. Its just a boring ballad really and I can see this one struggling.

Jemini, James Fox, Javine, Daz Sampson, Scooch, Andy Abraham and Josh Dubovie. Jokes. The lot of them (for the record Scooch deserved nil points, if it wasn’t for that pesky block voting stuff from Ireland and Malta…) Those will sum up Britain in the 2000s, but when Jade Ewen finished 5th in 2009 you realised there was hope for us yet. And despite last year’s step back, this is a jump up a few more steps to gaining credibility again. After realising going to the public was probably not sensible, the BBC chose internally and one of the most popular boy bands in Europe, Blue. Hell, we’ve got points already just because they are Blue. The song is strong again, typical boy band material. You know what, I’m proud to be supporting Britain at Eurovision again this year, because this could do very, very well.

Prediction: Win! Well, nearly, at least.

Predictions

To sum up who I feel will qualify for the semi final, well, here it is (I won’t do the final because I genuinely keep changing my mind every four minutes.

Pos

Semi Final 1

Semi Final 2

1

Turkey

Estonia

2

Hungary

Sweden

3

Azerbaijan

Ireland

4

Poland

Denmark

5

Norway

Bosnia and Herzegovina

6

Russia

Romania

7

Iceland

Bulgaria

8

Finland

Austria

9

Switzerland

Netherlands

10

Serbia

Moldova

So there we go, I’ve looked at all 43 songs and you can expect from tomorrow some indepth thoughts on certain songs and Eurovision itself. Bet you all can’t wait. If you’ve agreed, disagreed, shout at me in the comments as per usual.